Circuit-controlling switch.



APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2, 1907.

Patented June 29, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l,

R m N E m WITNESSES: 8M ELM.

A TTORNE Y APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1907.

926,681. Patented June 29, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVEN TOR A TTORNE Y 1m: NoRRls PETERS ca, wAsmrmmu, 0.:

CIRCUIT CONTROLLING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1907.

Patented June 29, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

INVENTOR wmv 5. 33 m A TTORNE Y GIRGUIT CONTROLLING SWITCH. APPLICATION rum) no.2. 1907.

Patented June 29, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

,wvzn ag WQXXM/ 5. r ATTORNEY WITNESSES nu: NORRIS rc-rcws ca, WASHINGTON, n. av

u N 11pm S'I'A'iitb PAIEN T men.

WALTER S. RYAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO RYAN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, OF MUNCIE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. RYAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Indianapolis, in the county of Marion, State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Circuit-Controlling Switch, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in switch-mechanisms, and to that type of switclimeclianisms wherein the operation of the switch intermittently is accomplished.

Objects of this invention are to provide a device of the character described which will be inexpensive to install and which will require little or no attention in its operation.

Other purposes are to provide such a device which will be safe in point of fire hazard and will consume a minimum amount of cur rent and whereby a quick-break and clean cut-off of the circuit is accomplished. To these ends my invention consists of the new construction combination and arrangement of parts and details described in this specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims.

Similar characters of reference refer to cor responding parts throughout the several views in the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front view of my invention the receptacle being shown partially in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof, and Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1 the parts all be ing in normal position. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line -i4 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view on the line 55 Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 1, the movable parts being translated to ex treme opposite position. Fig. 7, is a detached view of contact-spring and contactstrip 50 and 51. Fig. 8 is a detached enlarged sectional viewof the receptacle. Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 are diagrammatic views showing two different systems of wiring which are being employed in the utilizing of my invention.

1 designates a solenoid suitably supported and retain ed in the metallic frame 2 which is rigidly secured by bolts 3 d to the upper portion of the base-plate 3, made of suitable non-conductive material such as slate.

3 designate holes through which may be passed means to sustain the device in proper position against the object of support.

3 designates a hole through which are passed the wires to be hereinafter referred. to.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 2, 1907.

Patented June 29, 1909.

Serial No. 404,783.

4 designates a core-piece which forms the core for the upper portion of the solenoid, (see Fig. 5) and is supported by the frame 2. The bottom of this core-piece has a coneshaped recess therein and corresponds with the cone-shaped upper end of the core 5. The core-piece 4 fits tightly in the spool 1 of the solenoid. The insulating disk 1 is provided to afford protection and insulation for the solenoid-wires 58, 42 and 46 which are connected to the solenoid.

56 and 57 are binding-posts. To secure the solenoid in its proper place in the frame 2 it is passed into position and then the screw 2 that passes through a suitable hole there for in the top of frame 2 is screwed into the said core-piece 1 and tightened.

6 designates a connecting-bar retained slidingly in correct position in the guide-bracket 7. This connecting-bar 6 is shouldered and threaded at its ends, its upper end is screwed into the lower end of the core 5 and supports the bridge-bar 8 made of conductive metal and insulated from the core and connecting rod by the hard-fiber rings 9 and 10. A similar bridge-bar 11 is supported on the lower end of the connecting-bar 6, insulated therefrom by the hard fiber-rings 12 and 13, and is securely retained in its position by the nut 14 that is screwed on the lower end of the connecting-bar, as shown in Fig. 5. Rigidly secured to the base 3 by the bolts 3 in central alinement with the solenoid 1 is the receptacle 16 adapted to retain a suitable fluid such as mercury, which I have found preferable, upon which a float is disposed as will be hereinafter referred to. Cast-iron has been found a desirable metal for this receptacle.

17 designates a cover-plate of insulating fiber having perforations therein for the passing of the certain members to be hereinafter described.

18 designates a suitable tube having a flared upwardly extending inlet through which the mercury is introduced into the receptacle.

Adapted to reside and move freely within the receptacle and buoyed in the mercury is the float 20, cylindrical in form and of such bulk and weight that the proper buoyancy thereof in the mercury is obtained. Secured in and extending upwardly from the center of the float 20 and through the cover-plate 17 is the rod 21 upon which is secured the head 22, provided with the annular depression 23 into which the cushion 15 is fitted.

24, 25 and 26 are contact posts, upon the lower ends of which are screwed and retained rigidly the fiber-plugs 24 25 and 26 These fiber-plugs are threaded externally so that they may be screwed down to the desired depth and adjustably retained in the threaded holes 20 provided therefor in the float 20. Each of these plugs has a cupshaped upper end 30 the function of which will be hereinafter referred to. The float 20 is constructed of such bulk and weight that when it is not detained in the bottom of the receptacle as shown in Fig. 5 by the weight of the supervening parts, it will by its buoyancy ascend to the dotted line position, as shown in Fig. 6.

53 designates a contact post positioned on the head 22 said contact-post being threaded and thus capable of vertical adjustment.

28 designates a contact-post, and 29 a resilient contact-strip, both secured to the base 3, the latter being below the former and at such position that it will be engaged by the said contact-post 53 carried by the head 22. As the float rises to complete its upward stroke, the resilient contact-strip 29 will be raised and pressed into engagement with the contact-post 28, as shown in Fig. 6.

Carbon-blocks 8 and 11 are rigidly secured by the counter-sunk bolts to the ends of the bridge-bar 8 and 11 respectively. Positioned so as to correctly register with these carbon-blocks and the ends of the bridge-bars 8 and 11 respectively, are the carbon-blocks 31 d and 32 supported by the resilient-strips 31 and 32 respectively. These resilient-strips 31 and 32 and similar resilient strips 31 and 32 secured to the base-plate 3 by the binding-posts 33, 34, 35, and 36, and are so formed and adapted that in the operation of my invention, as will be hereinafter described, a proper contact in their engagement and disengagement with the bridgebars 8 and 11, is obtained.

37 designates a resilient contact member adapted to be engaged by the bridge-bar 11 at the limit of its upward movement, the function of which contact member will be apparent hereinafter in the description of the operation of my invention.

59, 60 and 61 designate binding-posts.

A given quantity of mercury having been introduced into the receptacle 16 through the tube 18 sufficient to rise to the dotted line 16 d the switch-mechanism is in readiness for operation, and appears as shown in Fig. 1, the float 20 being submerged and held in lowermost position by the weight of the core 5 and its connected parts. The fiberlugs 24 25 and 26 are submerged, an the mercury is in contact with all of the contactposts 24, 25 and 26. The contact post 53 is screwed down so as not to engage the con tact-strip 29, as these two elements are of use only where my switch-mechanism is arranged in series.

The operation of mv invention will be readily understood from the fifildwing description, and by reference tothe diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 9. 40 being closed, the current enters along wire 140 and 240 and the binding post 41, passes through wire 58 and coil 42 of solenoid 1, thence through wire 43 into contact-post 26, thence through mercury to contactpost 25, wire 44, terminal-post 34 and out over wire 48. The core 5 is influenced and ascends quickly and with such force that the bridgebars 8 and 11 with their carbon-blocks 8 and 11 move up to the contact-strips 31 and 32 with their carbon-blocks 31 and 32 and are brought into close engagement with each other establishing external circuit A. At the same time the bridge bar 11 makes contact with the contact member 37, the function whereof will be presently referred to. There being then no weight resting upon the head 22 the buoyant float 20 immediately but slowly rises, and as it does so, the contactosts 26 and 25, they being supported in the 'ber-plugs 24 at a height relatively greater than the height of the contactpost 24, emerge from the mercury, then the current that is flowing through the wire 58 flows through the resistance coil 46 of the solenoid (see Fig. 9) thence through wire 45, contact-post 24, mercury, and receptaclewall 16, wire 47, contact-member 37 and the bridge-bar 11, thence through contact-strip 32, terminal-post 34 and out over wire 48. By this arrangement the quantity of current consumed during the time subsequent to the lifting of the core 5 is greatly reduced, because a very small current is sufficient to maintain the core 5 in its uppermost position. With the continuation in the ascent of the float the contact-post 24 emerges from the mercury thus breaking the remaining circuit through the solenoid, the core instantly drops, and with the disengagement of the bridge-bars 8 and 11 from the contact-strips 31 and 32, and the terminals 33 and 34 respectively the external circuit A is opened. By the arrangement of the contact member 37 as shown, the current will flow through the resistance coil 46 so long as the bridge bar 11 is in raised position and will be opened when the bridge bar is released. By having the circuit that includes the resistance coil 46 thus kept normally open, the flow of the current through the external circuit in series with the flow of the current of the circuit through the resistance coil 46, is prevented, and the perfect operation of the solenoid, when the external circuit is closed for use, is assured. The weight of the core andits connected parts resting on the head 22 A controlling switch 5?? causes the float to descend and to be submerged in the mercury; the external circuit will remain open until the float will have reached a position where contact-posts 25 and 26 are both submerged whence the operation above described will be automatically repeated. Thus the opening and closing automatically of the switch at predetermined intervals is accomplished positively and reliably.

For obtaining a contact of the mercury with the contact-posts that engage the same, which will at all times be reliable and whereby corrosion of the contact-members may be prevented, I have devised the detail as shown in Fig. 8. The flbenplugs 24 25 and 26 each has its top provided with the cupshaped recess 30 which forms a cup that will at all times be filled with the mercury, so that the making and breaking of the circuit as hereinbefore described, is accomplished in the mercury, that is, at the meeting of the bulk of mercury with that in the cup, surrounding its contact-post. In the upward movement of the float and the dropping of the mercury and as the fiber-plug rises and reaches the surface, the surface-tension of the mercury is broken instantaneously and simultaneously with the emersion therefrom of the fiber-plug. In the movements of the float and the mercury reverse to those just described the surface-tension about the peripheral edge of this fiber-plug is broken instantly and simultaneously with the submersion of the fiber-plug and the bulk of the mercury unites with that in the cup instantaneously.

Where the accomplishment of the automatic establishing of circuits successively and then the breaking of said circuits simultaneously is desired, my invention is of equal utility and effectiveness. To accomplish the foregoing result a plurality of my improved switches are arranged and wired as plainly appears in the diagrammatic view shown in Fig. 10. Vrhen my circuit-controlling switches are thus arranged, the contact post 53 in the head 22 is so adjusted that at the limit of the upward movement of the float, the said contact post will make contact with the resilient contact strip 29 as hereinbefore described. Then the contact-post 24, and its fiber-plug 24 is so adjusted by screwing it down that the said fiber-plug will at all times during the operation of the float, be submerged in the mercury. The controlling switch is closed, the current enters at binding-post 41, passes through wire 42 of solenoid, thence through wire 43 into eontact-post 26, thence through mercury into contact post 25, wire 44, terminal post 34 and out through wire 48. The core 5 is influenced and ascends quickly and with such force that the bridge-bars S and 11 contactstrips 31 and 82, and terminal posts 35 and 36 establish the external circuit A. There beingthen no weight upon the head 22 the buoyant float 20 immediately rises and as it does so the contact-posts 26 and 25 emerge from the mercury, then the current that is flowing through binding-post 41 passes through the resistance wire 46' thence through contact post 24, mercury, receptacle-wall 16, wire 47, contact-spring 50, contact-strip 51, (which normally are in contact with each other) wire 48, contactmcmber 37, contact-strip 32 terminal post 34 and out. With the continuation of the ascent of the float the contact post 53 raises the contact-spring 29 into connection with contact-strip 28 whereupon the current is afforded a circuit through the second switch as follows: Binding post 41, wire 42, wire 43, contact post 26, mercury, contact post 24, wire 45, 29, contact post 53, head 22, float 20, mercury, receptacle-wall 16, wire 47, contact-spring 50, contact-strip 51, wire 48, contact-member 37, contact-strip 32, terminal 34 and out. The core 5 is influenced and ascends quickly and there is established the external circuit B, in the manner as described in establishing external circuit A. There being then no weight upon the head 22", the buoyant float 20" immediately and slowly rises and as it does so the contact post 26 (25 being not used in this or other added switches) emerges from the mercury, then the current that is flowing through binding post 41 passes through resistance wire 46, wire 45", contact-strip 2S, contact-spring 29 float 20, mercury, receptacle-wall 16 wire 47, contact-spring 50, contact-strip 51, wire 48, contact-member 37, contact-strip 32, terminal post 34 and out.

Vith the continuation of the ascent of the float the contact post 53" raises the contactspring 29 to contact-strip 2S whereupon the current is afforded a circuit through third switch as follows: Binding post 41, wire 42 wire 43", contact-post 26, mercury, contact post 24", wire 45", contact-spring 29", contact post 53, head 22", float 20, mercury, contact-post 24, wire 45", contactspring 29, float 20, mercury, receptaclewall 16, wire 47, through 50, 51, 48, 37, 32, 34 and out. The core 5 is influenced and ascends quickly and there is established the external circuit C in the manner as described in establishing external circuit A and B There being then no weight upon the head 22", the buoyant float 20 immediately and slowly rises and as it does so the contact 26 (25 being not used in this or other added switches) emerges from the mercury, then the current that is flo ing through binding-post 41 passes through resistance wire 46, wire 45, contact-strip 28, contact spring 29, contact post 53", head 25, float 20, contact post 24, wire 45, contact-strip 29 float 20% mercury receptacle-wall 16, wire 47 contact-spring 50, contact-strip 51, wire 48* contact member 37, contact-strip 32 terminal post 34 and out. With a con tinuation of the ascent of the float the contact post 53 lifts the contact-spring 50 disengaging it from the contactstrip 51, thus interrupting the circuit through the solenoid 1 1 and 1", the cores 5 5 5", instantly drop, breaking the previously established eX- ternal circuits A B and C simultaneously. The Weight of the cores and their connected parts resting on the heads 22 22 and 22 causing the floats 20 20 and 20 c to descend and to be submerged again in the mercury. The said external circuits A B and C will remain open as aforesaid until the floats each will have reached the initial submerged position whence the operation of establishing circuits successively as just described will be automatically and continuously repeated.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a movable member normally resting on said float and depressing the same, an electro-res onsive device for moving said member to re ease the float, a circuit including said electro-responsive device and means controlled by said float for energizing the eleetro-responsive device when the float is depressed and denergizing it when the float is released.

2. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a movable member resting on said float and depressing same, an electroresponsive device for moving said movable member to release the float, a circuit includ ing said electro-responsive device, means controlled. by the said float for energizing the electro-responsive device when the float is depressed, means controlled by the float to partially denergize the electro-responsive device and means controlled by the float for completely deenergizing the electro-responsive device, when the float has been released 3. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a movable member normally resting upon said float and depressing same, an electro-responsive device for moving said movable member to release the float, a circuit that includes said electro-responsive device, means controlled by the said float for energizing the electro-responsive device when the float is depressed and for denergizing it when the float is released, a resistance element in the said circuit that includes the said electro responsive device, and means controlled by the float to cut in said resistance after the movable member has been moved.

4. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a solenoid the core of which is adapted to normally rest upon and depress said float, a bridging member carried by said core, a circuit that includes said solenoid, a

switch operated by the float to cause the said solenoid to be energized when the float is depressed whereby the core and bridgingmember are lifted and the float is released, a switch operated by the float to cause the said solenoid to be deenergized during the upward movement of the float.

5. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a solenoid the core of which is adapted to normally rest upon and depress said float, a bridging member carried by said core, a circuit that includes said solenoid, a switch operated by the float to cause the said solenoid to be energized when the float is depressed whereby the core and bridging-member are lifted and the float is released, a resistance element in the said circuit, a switch operated by the float to cut in said resistance after the core has been lifted.

6. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a solenoid the core of which is adapted to normally rest upon and depress said float, a circuit through. the solenoid, a switch operated by the float to cause the said solenoid to be energized when the float has been depressed and to be de'e'nergized after the float has been released, a resistance element in the said circuit, a switch operated by the float to cut in said resistance after the core has been lifted, a switch in said circuit adapted to be operated by the bridging member whereby the circuit in which is the resistance element will be normally kept open when the bridging member is not in raised position.

7. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a float therein, a solenoid the core of which is adapted to normally rest upon and depress said float, a bridging member carried by said core, a main circuit through the solenoid, a pair of contacts for said circuit that are carried by the float, a third contact carried by the float, a fluid conductor between the said pair of contacts and the third contact said pair of contacts being arranged so as to disengage the fluid conductor in the upward movement of the float, and the third contact being arranged so as to momentarily disengage the fluid conductor subsequent to the disengagement aforesaid by said pair of contacts and as the float reaches the upper limit of its movement, a secondary circuit through a portion of the solenoid the fluid conductor and said third contact, a switch that is actuated by the bridging-member carried by the core, so that the said main circuit and secondary circuit are open while the float is being depressed.

8. In an electric switch, a receptacle, a conductive fluid therein, a float, a solenoid the core of which has secured thereto a downwardly disposed guide-rod connected to said core adapted to normally rest upon and depress said float, a main circuit through the solenoid, a pair of contact-posts for said i I wJiJ ills L'll/ V 1/- tions, a secondary circuit through a portion of the solenoid, a contact post for said secondary circuit that is mounted on said float and with its fluid contact point at a point lower than the other contact-posts, abridging member carried by the core, a switch adapted to be operated by the said bridging-member, so that the said main circuit and secondary circuit are open while the float is being depressed.

9. An electric switch ol the kind described including a solenoid a receptacle disposed vertically beneath said solenoid, a fluid conductor in said receptacle, a float disposed within said receptacle and on the saidfluid conductor, there being a cushion on the head of said float, a guide way supported underneath the said solenoid a guide rod secured to the bottom of the core of the solenoid mount ed movably in said guideway the said solenoid and receptacle being so placed with reference to each other that there will be a substantial distance between the head of the float and the bottom of the guide bar when each is at its uppermost position, substantially as described.

10. A multiple switch comprising a plurality of switch mechanisms each including a receptacle, a float therein, a movable member to rest on and to normally depress said float, an electro-responsive device, a circuit in which said electro-responsive device is included, a secondary circuit a resistance element therein, contacts operated by the float to energize the electro-responsive device when the float is depressed and to cut into the said secondary circuit the resistance after the float is released, means controlled by DH'lLk/U. iiieoiiaiiisiii to cause bllG current 01 E116 circuit to flow through the next switch mechanism after the float of the predecessor has been released, a switch in the secondary circuit that stands normally closed adapted to be opened by the float of the last switch-mechanism after its float is released.

11. A multiple switch comprising a plurality of switch mechanisms each including a receptacle, a float therein, a movable member to rest on and to normally depress said. float, an electro-responsive device, a circuit in which said electro-responsive device is included, a secondary circuit a resistance element therein, contacts operated by the float to energize the eleetro-responsive device when the float is depressed and to cut into the said secondary circuit the resistance alter the float is released, means controlled by the float ol:' the initial and each intermediate switell-mechanism to cause the current ol the circuit to flow through the next switch mechanism alter the float ol' the predecessor has been released, a switch in the secondary circuit that stands normally closed adapted to be opened by the float ol' the last switchmechanism alter its float is released, means to open the secondary circuit alter the floats have been so released including a switch in said secondary circuit arranged so as to be opened by the movable member of the initial switch mechanism.

In testimony whereol, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER S. RYAN.

\Vitnesses MARGARET MACK, NORMAN MoOAn'rY. 

